Seaport Sunrise.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Thu Apr 13 08:10:01 2006 UTC

I rose early to try and catch the 2003 Leonids, but the only thing worth
looking at was this stunning sunrise seen from Westshore across the port
of Napier. Photo details: Minolta camera, 1 second exposure with a 200mm
zoom lens and a 2 times converter @ f-6, Kodak Elitechr ome 200 slide
film. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact gramy@globe.net.nz

Additional Images by this Photographer:

An Imperfect World.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Wed Jun 25 08:50:01 2008 UTC

Science once held that the universe outside our world was a perfect one,
with all objects out there being a glorious testament to the divine
creator. That idea came crashing to earth in 1609, when Galileo Galilei
pointed his home-made telescope at the moon and found it was a rugged,
mountainous and cratered world. The illusion of perfection was
shattered. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400 @ prime focus through an
80mm Vixen refracting telescope, 1/320th second exposure. Image
copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Ebb & Flow.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sun May 4 00:08:01 2008 UTC

The time of solar minimum is that of a star with a split personality.
Magnetic sun-spots from the old, dying cycle can overlap with new cycle
spots. The three groups in this image are all from old cycle number 23,
and will possibly be some of the last we will see - NASA scientists
predict the new cycle number 24 will begin to be felt before this year
is out. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400 @ prime focus through an 80mm
Vixen refracting telescope, fitted with a solar filter, 1/1250th second
exposure. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Giant On The Water.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Fri Mar 7 03:25:01 2008 UTC

Orion, the hunter, reflects nicely in the surface of Lake Tutira. This
area was a traditional hunting site for local Maori, who depended on
food provided by the vast bird-life that once resounded in the dawn
chorus. Clearing of the forests for farmland almost silenced the birds,
but now the trees are making a comeback, and so are the birds. Bring on
the chorus! Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 12 1/2 minute exposure
with a Canon EF 15mm Fisheye lens @ f-2.8. Image copyright to Graham
Palmer. For more images, visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Pac Man.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Thu Feb 7 09:43:01 2008 UTC

This partial solar eclipse was widely seen from New Zealand on February
7, 2008. Taken near the time of maximum coverage, the sun looks like an
early computer game icon. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400 @ prime
focus through a 80mm Vixen refracting telescope, 1/800th second
exposure. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Evasive Maneuvers.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Mon Jan 14 22:01:01 2008 UTC

January 13th, I was observing at "Stardate 2008" in Hastings, New
Zealand, when the ISS flew over early in the evening. I grabbed the
camera and tripod, set the frame to include Orion and Mars, and hit the
button for an ISS trail shot. However, I didn't quite get the result I
expected... The ISS did an evasive maneuver to avoid hitting the belt
stars in Orion, before resuming straight flight...
Well, at least that's how the picture shows it...

Ghostly Horse.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Wed Dec 5 09:01:01 2007 UTC

Within the constellation of Orion, lays the Horse-Head Nebula. This
cloud of hydrogen is a dark feature that would go unnoticed if not for
the brightly lit clouds that linger in the background. This image was
shot from Possum Observatory, Gisborne. Thanks must go to John Drummond
& John Burt for their equipment and expertise. Photo details: Canon
350D, ISO 800 6 x 3 minute exposures at prime focus through a 16"
telescope. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Twister!

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sun Nov 11 10:47:01 2007 UTC

November 11, 2007 was a beautiful spring day in Hawke's Bay. However,
thunder storms formed along the mountain ranges then headed east towards
Napier. The largest of these produced my first tornado of the year, and
it was a real good one. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/320th
second exposure with a Sigma 18-200mm lens @ f-8. Image copyright to
Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Lagoon & Triffid.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Thu Oct 18 04:02:01 2007 UTC

Star forming regions fill the Milky Way in the direction of Sagittarius.
Two beautiful examples are the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and Triffid Nebula
(M20). Both objects are full of hot, young blue stars that cause the
surrounding gas clouds to glow with glorious colour. Photo details:
Canon 350D, ISO 800, 2 1/2 minute exposure with a Canon EF 135mm lens @
f-3.5. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Red Moon.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Wed Aug 29 12:49:01 2007 UTC

August 28, 2007 was the first total lunar eclipse seen from New Zealand
for more than seven years. It was a beautiful event with clean golden
colours, and was worth the wait. Photo details: Canon 350D @ ISO 800,
through an 8" telescope. The exposures ranged from 1/3200th to 1.3
seconds. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. For more images, visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Solstice Stone.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Jul 14 04:17:01 2007 UTC

The sun glides to its southern most point of the year on December 21st.
The southern summer solstice marks the true start of warmer weather. On
that evening, the sun will set directly on top of the solstice stone.
Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/250th second exposure with a Sigma
18-125mm DC lens @ f-11. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Visit my
website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Rainbow Cloud.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sun Jun 3 02:03:01 2007 UTC

On the morning of January 14th, 2007, I was hunting for daylight a
glimpse of comet McNaught. I was using a street light to block the sun,
when alone came a small scrap of cloud. As it got close to the sun, it
came alive with vivid rainbow colours and I took this shot. It was
forgotten about shortly after when the comet came into view, but now has
its chance to shine again. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/1000th second
exposure with an EF 75-300mm lens, ISO 200 @ f-13. Image copyright to
Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz or visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Romantic Beacon.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Wed Apr 11 11:07:01 2007 UTC

The busy port-city of Napier bathes under its own light on April 8,
2007. Not to be out-done, the moon casts a river of light across the
peaceful Hawke Bay to Westshore, where onlookers relax and enjoy the
romantic view. Photo details: Canon 350D, 2.5 second exposure with a
Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-4. Image copyright to Graham Palmer.
Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz

Electrical Storm.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Feb 10 05:05:01 2007 UTC

February 9, 2007 was a hot Hawke's Bay day, and some active thunder
storms soon formed. Only one of them lasted until after dark, but it
gave me my first opportunity to shoot some lightning. Photo details:
Canon 350D, 20 second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 100 @
f-8. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz

The Great Daylight Comet Of 2007.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Feb 3 07:17:01 2007 UTC

I stepped outside at midday on Sunday the 14th of January, with my
binoculars and camera, to try and photograph Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1).
I was not prepared for what I saw... Blocking out the sun with a street
light, the comet was as clear and sharp as I could never have imagined.
The compact coma was surrounded by a bright, diffuse halo. About 1.5
degrees of broad tail was visible with the naked eye. Now that is what I
call a great comet! It was just the start of the adventure. Photo
details: Canon 350D, 1/1000th second exposure with a Canon EF 75-300mm
lens, ISO 200 @ f-11. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at
gramy@globe.net.nz

Comet McNaught - Twilight Wonder #1

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Feb 3 06:59:01 2007 UTC

January 18th 2007 turned out to be the first clear night of the week in
Hastings, New Zealand. It was time to hunt some comet! McNaught put on a
show that I will never forget. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1.6 second
exposure with a Canon EF 75-300mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-5.6. Image copyright
to Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz

Comet McNaught - Twilight Wonder #3

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Tue Mar 10 07:48:01 2009 UTC

Darkness was setting in on January 18th, 2007 and the full glory of this
comet began to be revealed. It was truly an awesome sight that set the
whole neighbourhood in a buzz. If I never see another comet, the
memories of this night will last me a lifetime. Photo details: Canon
350D, 15 second exposure with a Canon EF 75-300mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-4.5.
Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz For
more images, visit my website: http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

The Extravagant Tail Of A Great Comet.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Wed Jul 4 08:47:01 2007 UTC

Like a spray of water from a passing jet-boat, the magnificent tail of
Comet McNaught fans across the western sky on the evening of January 19,
2007. In this image taken at "Stardate 2007" the brilliant head of the
comet is already set behind hills to the west. The tail did not finish
setting until well after midnight. Photo details: Canon 350D, 69 second
exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-4.5. Image copyright to
Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz or visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Moonlight Comet.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Feb 3 05:50:02 2007 UTC

After a week of cloudy evenings, the night of the 30th of January 2007
was clear. Comet McNaught had now faded significantly, but was still an
easy naked eye object despite the near-full phase of the moon. Photo
details: Canon 350D, 13 second exposure with a Canon 50mm lens, ISO 800
@ f-2.8. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at
gramy@globe.net.nz

Circumpolar Comet.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Fri Apr 6 10:55:01 2007 UTC

Early in the morning of the 31st of January 2007, Comet McNaught is now
far enough South that it no longer sets from most of New Zealand. Myself
and many other observers took advantage of this fact to see the comet in
dark skies again after the moon had set. Photo details: Canon 350D, 30
second exposure with a Canon 50mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8. Image copyright
to Graham Palmer. Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz

Serenity.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sun May 31 05:00:01 2009 UTC

First light on the 31st of January 2007. Comet McNaught floats above the
lagoon at Clive, Hawke's Bay. The scene was so peaceful, only being
disturbed by the occasional splash of fish jumping in the mirror-like
waters. The lights in the distance are the townships of Clive, Haumoana,
Te Awanga and Clifton. The faint 'smudge' at upper right is the SMC.
Photo details: Canon 350D, 46 second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm
lens, ISO 800 @ f-3.5. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at
gramy@globe.net.nz For more images, visit my website:
http://www.skyhigh-photography.com

Beautiful Dawn.

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Sat Feb 3 05:15:01 2007 UTC

Dawn approaches on the 31st of January 2007. The Pacific Ocean gently
laps against the beach while Comet McNaught hangs gracefully in the sky
above Cape Kidnappers, Hawke's Bay. This truly remarkable comet has been
a gift to astronomers and lay-people alike, the world over. Photo
details: Canon 350D, 25 second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO
800 @ f-3.5. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at
gramy@globe.net.nz

December 15, 2006 (1107 UTC)

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Mon Dec 18 09:38:01 2006 UTC

The Southern sky had been bright all evening, and sometimes it could be
seen pulsing with extra energy as a weak aurora tried to get stronger.
Photo details: Canon 350D, 2 1/2 minute exposure with a Canon EF 20mm
lens, ISO 400 @ f-2.8. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me at
gramy@globe.net.nz

December 15, 2006 (1214 UTC)

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Mon Dec 18 09:19:01 2006 UTC

The storm finally gathered some strength and these rays appeared in the
south. Photo details: Canon 350D, 32 second exposure with a Canon EF
20mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8. Image copyright to Graham Palmer. Contact me
at gramy@globe.net.nz

December 15, 2006 (1216 UTC)

Submitted by:
Graham Palmer at Mon Dec 18 09:00:01 2006 UTC

This ray lingered briefly near the Southern constellation, Grus. The
first decent aurora of solar cycle 24 lasted only a few minutes, but it
was worth the wait. Photo details: Canon 350D, 48 second exposure with a
Canon EF 20mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8. Image copyright to Graham Palmer.
Contact me at gramy@globe.net.nz